Korean automaker Kia Motors has scaled back its expectations for U.S. sales, according to trade publication Automotive News. The company recently targeted U.S. sales of 800,000 vehicles a year in 2010, but now expects that figure to be around 650,000 units, said CEO Chung Eui Sun.
Chung Eui Sun spoke at the groundbreaking for a new U.S. plant. He said the decreased expectations would mean Kia might have to export some units to Latin America. The company is spending $1 billion on the plant.
Kia hopes to hit 300,000 sales by the end of this year. “It will be a bit of a stretch, but the 300,000 target would be psychologically important,” said Len Hunt, Kia Motors America executive vice president and COO. Hunt said dealers remain optimistic about Kia’s investment in America.
10/20, 4:03 PM
posted by:
Lucifer
once chinese cars start coming in….kia’s going down
10/20, 5:06 PM
posted by:
davidg1977
I think it’s interesting that bullish statements by the Koreans (as highlighted here) and also the Chinese (see Bricklin pushing back intro and the Geely no where to be found) are slowly petering out. I wonder why Kia is pulling back on their claim other than they just don’t have the momentum that they planned? Are they concerned on their product or just don’t think those bullish statements are viable and better to rescind now?
10/20, 5:20 PM
posted by:
maverick
KIA SUCKS!!!
10/20, 6:33 PM
posted by:
monts
Make another 42000000000 models, seems to worl for Mercedes-Benz.
10/20, 8:49 PM
posted by:
bepsf
Maybe Kia doesn’t want to be the next Mitsubishi…
10/20, 9:20 PM
posted by:
A4
Kia’s are better than ANY one of those chinese dog **** offerings.
10/20, 9:41 PM
posted by:
chris2
China has some excellent vehicles. Look at the Buick laCrosse. Very nice. Issue is that they are not that cheap. When it gets down to it there is not that much difference in price between Korean and chinese built vehicles.
10/20, 10:20 PM
posted by:
A4
its not korean and chinese BUILT
there are Kias built in North America, or will be shortly, as this article proves.. does it make them american? no. Does the same apply to the LaCrosse? Yes. That is NOT a Chinese car. There has yet to be a Chinese car in the US from a Chinese manufacturer. Those manufacturers are way behind Kia, and will not catch up. They simply copy everyone elses designs and try to undercut everyone else. They’re scheisters, and noone should care about them.
10/20, 10:21 PM
posted by:
A4
One example being Chery. Look them up. They suck ass.
10/20, 11:46 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
“A4″, bravo.
10/21, 12:54 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Hahaha…South Korean and Chinese manufacturers…you still have_very_long_way to go before matching the Japs. The Americans/Germans are still lightyears ahead though.
10/21, 6:26 PM
posted by:
Veda
Actually A4, their CRV clone will sell very well at $10K. There are always those who want the same stuff without the expensive badge.
10/22, 4:37 AM
posted by:
Hal
Hyundai/Kia make decent cars. The sonata is a match for any comparable family sedan from GM. And sure it will take chinese manufacturers a while to get up to speed but once they are exporting in volume they will wipe the floor with GM and Ford on price.
10/22, 9:32 AM
posted by:
InvisibleEcho
After driving around a Kia for about 4 years now, I can honestly say that I’d take even a Hyundai over a Kia (Hyundais seem to be better than Kias, according to everything I’ve seen and experienced) but I wouldn’t touch that Chinese **** with a Pacific Ocean-crossing pole. They’re just getting warmed up – which means, like the Japanese cars in the 70s and the Korean cars until like, 2004, they’ll blow maggots for another 10-15 years at least. I still don’t like their business practices; how can any country be ok with companies that don’t value sanctity of intellectual property? And what male wants to be driving around in something called a “Chery?” Might as well get the LG Chocolate phone after that and totally dedicate your life to buying things with ridiculous names….
10/24, 10:32 PM
posted by:
Phil
Once again, we see how much of a racist prick 1c3d0g is.